Amanda Holden will also be making an appearance in the children’s show; the Britain’s Got Talent judge will be donning a plum cape and hat to play Miss Pentangle – the headmistress of a rival witch academy.

Jill Murphy is very much on board (or should that be ‘on broom’?) with the upcoming TV adaptation of her books.

The talented author told the BBC: “Published 42 years ago, The Worst Witch has been the cornerstone of my career. I illustrate my own books, so I am very protective about them in every way, and I'm delighted to say that this wonderful new production ticks all the boxes.

“There have been a few changes, to nudge the Academy into the 21st century, but die-hard fans needn't worry, Miss Hardbroom is always on hand making sure that 'Standards will NOT be slipping!' Now, when my readers ask if they can visit the school, I can tell them ‘watch the new series of The Worst Witch on CBBC and you'll feel as if you've just flown in through the window!'”

The new 10-episode series is set to air on CBBC in January 2017 – and will later be made available to viewers all around the world on Netflix.

And, while it’s aimed at children, we have a feeling that plenty of grown-up fans will be tuning in to watch as well.

Images: CBBC

When iconic TV and film casts reunite:

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Incredible fashion, ridiculous puns and a theme tune that was (and still is) one of the worst ear worms known to man, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a 1990s show with a solid place in our hearts.

In a series running from 1990 until 1996, Will Smith was forced by his mother to abandon his chillin’ out, maxin’ and relaxin’ all cool in Philadelphia to live in rich Uncle Phil’s massive house with his entitled kids, Carlton, Hilary and Ashley Banks (plus butler Geoffrey).

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

In March 2017, Alfonzo Ribeiro (Carlton) revealed on Instagram that the Fresh Prince cast had reunited, more than 20 years after the series ended.

From left to right, the reunion featured Tatyana Ali (Ashley), Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons (Hilary), eponymous star Will Smith, Daphne Maxwell Reid (Vivian in later series) and Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey).

James Avery, who played Uncle Phil, passed away in 2013 following surgery complications. Captioning the image, Ribeiro wrote: “Always amazing to spend an afternoon with my Fresh Prince family. Wishing that James Avery was still with us to make this complete.”

Will & Grace

Broadcast from 1998 until 2006, Will & Grace was one of the most successful TV series ever to feature gay leading characters. Its depiction of gay men was sometimes criticised for reinforcing “camp” stereotypes – but the show has also been praised for helping improve mainstream attitudes towards the LGBT community in America.

US Vice President Joe Biden said in 2012 that Will & Grace “probably did more to educate the American public” on LGBT issues “than almost anything anybody has ever done so far”, while memorabilia from the show can be found in the LGBT history collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Oh, and the world was gifted one of its most delightfully loopy semi-villains in the form of Karen Walker (Megan Mullally). Everybody wins!

Will & Grace

The gang were reunited on September 24 at a comedy show hosted by Megan Mullally (Karen) – and just look how happy they seem to see each other.

Debra Messing (Grace) uploaded a picture on Instagram of herself, Mullally, Eric McCormack (Will) and Sean Hayes (Jack) beaming at the camera, with the caption: “Only smiling because of where Eric’s hand is!”

The stars also hinted on social media that they might be working on something new together, with Messing tweeting: “I feel like something BIG is going to happen tomorrow.” McCormack, meanwhile, posted a picture of himself holding a script, joking: “I used to be able to do this without glasses...”

Hook

It seems impossible to believe that Hook, Steven Spielberg’s fantasy spin-off of Peter Pan, came out in 1991. In it, we watched as a grown-up Peter (Robin Williams) travelled back to Neverland to rescue his children from the evil Captain Hook – and reunite with his Lost Boys, aka Rufio (Dante Basco), Thud Butt (Raushan Hammond), Pockets (Isaiah Robinson), Sooner & Later (Bryan and Brett Willis), Noseminer (Bo Gheorghe), No Nap (Ahmad Stoner) and the young Peter Pan (Ryan Francis).

All together now? RU-FI-OOOOOO!

Hook

Hook may have come out 25 years ago, but the Lost Boys are as young at heart as ever.

Production company 22 Vision rounded up the old gang for a special reunion photo shoot, in which they’ve recreated the exact same pose as they did in the film poster when it came out in 1991.

Speaking about their time on the film, the Lost Boys explained that it was the amazing Robin Williams, who passed away two years ago, that made it such a magical place to work.

James Madio (aka Don’t Ask) said: "He kept the set very alive.

"He made sure that he had a relationship with each and every one of us."

Charmed

Our nineties and naughties obsession with witches, vampires and magic wouldn't have been complete without the cast of Charmed. The Halliwell sisters sure knew how to kick evil butt.

Charmed

So you can just imagine how chuffed we were to see two of the original line-up reuniting in Paris. Prue (Shannen Doherty) and Piper (Holly Marie Combs) had themselves a little Halliwell sister get-together while attending the Witches vs Vampires convention in Paris.

The Worst Witch

At a time when Harry Potter had yet to grace our screens, we had The Worst Witch for our daily dose of mystical adventures. Watching best friends, Mildred and Maud, get up to magical mischief at Miss Cackle's Academy provided hours of after-school entertainment.

The Worst Witch

Eighteen years passed and the two leading ladies proved their friendship has survived with Georgina Sherrington tweeting a picture of the two of them captioned "Reunions fun! 18 years later... Xx".

Friends

More than two decades have passed since six NY 20-somethings first sat on the sofa at Central Perk, but we're still obsessed with the characters of Friends. Tens of millions of us tuned into the final episode in May 2004 (52.5million in the US alone) making it the fourth most watched series finale of all time (M*A*S*H takes the top spot).

Friends

Hot on the back of the news that the Friends cast will come together once more in a special tribute show later this month, some of them have been spotted together alongside actors from The Big Bang Theory, in a photo posted to Instagram by actress Kaley Cuoco. It's a first glimpse we have of the much-anticipated and pre-taped reunion programme that will air on 21 February.

"Let me tell you something, there are six Friends and I've been trying to put together a cast dinner for ten years. It doesn't happen," Cox has previously commented. "I mean, I can get the girls to come, maybe Matthew Perry... Matt LeBlanc cancelled last time right at the last minute... it's not going to happen."

Friends

Jennifer Aniston (Rache Green), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller) and Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay) previously reunited for a skit in an impeccable replica of Monica's kitchen on the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Clueless

We could never imagine Cher ending up with anyone else but Josh in 1995's Clueless - they're one of the best fictional couples of the 90s - but Elton was a secure contender for the leading lady's heart...

Clueless

So it was with much excitement that the audience at the American Music Awards saw these two walk out on stage together once again. Alicia Silverstone and Jeremy Sisto reunited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the high-school classic and also introduce a performance from Gwen Stefani.

"It’s been 20 years since Jeremy and I worked on the movie Clueless. And we are proud to be a part of Amy Heckerling’s film," Alicia said. Jeremy added: "You know one of the many, many great things in the movie was this young, up and coming band named No Doubt and their song Just A Girl."

Clueless

That wasn't the first time the Clueless stars came together again...

Clueless

The film's standouts Alicia Silverstone (Cher Horowitz), Stacey Dash (Dionne Davenport) and Elisa Donovan (Amber Mariens) came together at the LA Film Festival in May 2014, where they spoke in a Q&A and watched a special screening of their cult film.

On the reunion, one fan said: "It didn't look like any time had passed. They all gelled so well together and looked like they could have stepped right back into those roles."

With their Alaia mini-dresses, matchy-matchy suits, knee-length socks and walk-in wardrobes, the TV show and 1995 film is now an iconic fashion moment and reference point.

Image: Getty

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

In 1971, a film finally brought Roald Dahl's most magical novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to life and it has since captured the imagination of children around the world for decades.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Forty-four years on, the cast reunited for a special interview on American talk show Today,but the group say they've stayed in touch to this date. "We think of ourselves as a family. Maybe a dysfunctional family," says Paris Themmen (top right), who played Mike Teevee. He was joined by (from top left) Peter Ostrum (Charlie), Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde), Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop), Rusty Goffe (the chief Oompa Loompa) and Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt).

In the chat, the group uncovered some secrets about the film. For example, the chocolate river was made out of water and was actually rather "disgusting" in real life.

All six of them agreed they would reprise their roles if given the chance. “The first thing people do when they find out who we are is they smile.”

Hocus Pocus

The kids from Hocus Pocus are all grown up - and Max even has stubble.

Vinessa Shaw, Omri Katz and Thora Birch, the youngsters haunted by the Sanderson sisters in the 1993 fantasy flick, have enjoyed a Halloween reunion and posted a snap from their get together on Instagram...

Hocus Pocus

Vinessa Shaw (iamvinessashaw) posted this adorable snap with the caption: “For your hangover from candy or whatever...more #HocusPocus for you!! Yes, we hung out on #halloween.”

Mean Girls

Ten years ago, Tina Fey's adapted screenplay Mean Girls became a cult teenage classic and spawned countless memes and one-liners. It sees Cady (played by Lindsay Lohan), who grew up in Africa, navigate through the wild antics of an American high school and face the popular and villainous clique of girls known as the Plastics.

Mean Girls

On 3 October, the day long-standing fans of the film will know is 'Mean Girls Day' (the day when a connection between school heartthrob Aaron Samuels and Cady sparked. He asked her what date it was and she replied, “It’s October 3rd”) the cast came together for one more laugh. They posted plenty of photos to log the moment on Instagram...

Mean Girls

Mean Girls

Mean Girls

In August 2014, Lindsay Lohan shared a selfie with former co-star Tina Fey (who plays the teacher Ms. Norbury) on Instagram. “Lovely running into an inspiring, funny, beautiful old friend!!!!” she wrote.

Image: Instagram

One Tree Hill

The high school drama centered around a basketball team and their sassy squad of cheerleaders in North Carolina. One Tree Hill ran for 9 seasons from 2003 until 2012 and many of us grew up alongside Lucas, Nathan, Hayley, Peyton and Brooke, experiencing their own trials and tribulations as our own.

One Tree Hill

The gang including Antwon Tanner (Skills), Bethany Joy Lenz (Hayley), Lee Norris (Mouth), Stephen Colletti (Chase), Paul Johansson (Dan) and Daphne Zuniga (Victoria) gathered for a reunion at a bar in Montreal. They all posted pics to their Instagram accounts but we loved this one by Antwon Tanner, where they all posed like true Ravens. Let's Go Ravens!

8 Simple Rules

They were only together for three seasons, but the cast of 8 Simple Rules - the American comedy about a father managing his three very different teenage children - have remained close ever since they departed in 2005.

The show, which was originally named 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter, changed its title after actor John Ritter (centre), who played father Paul Hennessy, died during season two.

8 Simple Rules

The Hennessy siblings, played by Kaley Cuoco, 29, Amy Davidson, 35 and Martin Spanjers, 28, came together to pay tribute to their on-screen grandad James Garner on the one-year anniversary of his death.

Cuoco wrote on Instagram "#8simplerules siblings all growed up. forever attached at the hip with these two! @martinspanjers @amy_davidson #johnritter #grandpagarner we miss you every day!"

Cruel Intentions

Based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cruel Intentions gave us fabulous fashion and a genius villain turn from Sarah Michelle Gellar.

It also featured one of the most famous pool scenes of all-time from Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe (back when they were together), a girl-on-girl kiss (thank you, Selma Blair) and a killer soundtrack.

They don't make movies like this anymore...

Cruel Intentions

Sixteen years on, and the film's leading ladies - Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar - have reunited to watch an unauthorized musical parody of their beloved 90s film.

Reese posted news of the get-together on her Instagram feed with the caption, "Best girls night of the year!!! #cruelintentions" (more than 140,000 people have liked it so far).

Cruel Intentions

Reese also posted about the reunion on Twitter, with this photo and the caption, "Let's do this! #CruelIntentionsMusical #90sflashback".

Ugly Betty

From 2006 to 2010, the smart and savvy wannabe writer Betty Suarez (played by America Ferrera), won the hearts of fashionistas all round with her with a unique sense of style and determination to succeed in the intimidating and wacky office of Mode magazine.

Ugly Betty

Five years after the show ended, the cast came together this weekend to celebrate Ferrera's 31st birthday. Stars who made it to the party and reunion included Judith Light (who played Mode founder Claire Meade), Mark Indelicato (Betty's nephew Justin Suarez), Vanessa Williams (Wilhelmina Slater), Tony Plano (Betty's father Ignacio Suarez) and costume designer Patricia Field.

Pretty Woman

It's ultimate rags to riches tale, where wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) falls in love with a prostitute Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) after he asks her for directions on Hollywood Boulevard.

Pretty Woman

Twenty five years on (the film released on 23 March 1990), the cast came together on The Today Show to celebrate the milestone anniversary. Hector Elizondo (the lovely hotel manager Barney), Laura San Giacomo (Vivian’s best friend Kit De Luca), director Garry Marshall, Roberts and Gere all turned out for the interview. Watch their reunion on YouTube.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The much-loved Weasley siblings made up of George (Oliver Phelps), Ginny (Bonnie Wright), Fred (James Phelps) and Ron (Rupert Grint), pictured left to right, were one of our favourite parts of the Harry Potter film - and book - franchise.

Harry Potter

So we were excited to see the film family and Tom Felton (who played foe Draco Malfoy) reunite at West Hollywood's State Social House over the weekend. "Kim K stood me up," wrote Felton on Instagram, referring to Kim Kardashian's recent bleached blonde hair that's reminiscent of his look in the films. "Outnumbered by 3 Weasleys. Ugh."

Matilda

The much loved adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic, Matilda, starred Mara Wilson as the little girl whose curious nature and insatiable appetite for learning isolated her from her family.

Matilda

And recently co-stars Mara Wilson and Kiami Davael got together for a lunch date, 19 years after starring together in the film. Kiama, who played Matilda's friend Lavender, played captioned the picture 'Lunch date shenanigans with my sis from another miss'

Dawson's Creek

The high school drama set in a small coastal town ran from 1998 to 2003, with two leading men at its core - Dawson Leery played by James Van Der Beek and Pacey Witter played by Joshua Jackson.

Dawson's Creek

The pair - now in their late 30s - bumped into each other at a party in November 2014, looking just as pally as we remember them on the small screen. "The most pleasant run-ins can happen in the most unexpected places," wrote Van Der Beek.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The wildly popular TV show about a high school demon hunter ran for seven years (1997-2003).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) and David Boreanaz (Angel) reunited on the set of Boreanaz's current TV show in February 2014, when Geller paid the actor a visit.

Boreanaz, 45, shared the picture of him also posing with his current sidekick Emily Deschanel, writing"A tale of two leading ladies".

Gellar, 37, currently stars in comedy series The Crazy Ones.

Image: Twitter

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

The story of Sabrina Spellman, the teenager with magical powers who comes from a long line of witches and lives with her wacky aunts Zelda and Helga, won the hearts of viewers from 1996 to 2003.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

In February 2014, 12 years after the show finished, Beth Broderick (Aunt Zelda) made a cameo appearance on Melissa Joan Hart's current TV show Melissa & Joey.

Image: Instagram

Saved by the Bell

Bayside High's gang of teen troublemakers ruled the airwaves from 1989 to 1993.

Saved by the Bell

The Bayside High gang - now all grown up - regrouped for the first time in 2009 since the show wrapped in 1993 for a special shoot in People magazine. "We're still very close for a cast that's known each other 20 years," says Mark-Paul Gosselaar who played Zack. "I think that will continue." In case you need a refresher: (from left), Lark Voorhies (Lisa), Mario Lopez (A.C. Slater), Tiffani Thiessen (Kelly), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zack) and Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie).

Boy Meets World

From 1993 to 2000, viewers watched Cory Matthews his best friend Shawn and Cory's girlfriend Topanga survive the trials of school and university in comedy Boy Meets World.

Boy Meets World

In June 2013, the crew came together at the ATX festival in Austin. Off the back of the show's success, Disney released spin-off Girl Meets World in 2014, starring the original couple Cory Matthews (played by Ben Savage) and Topanga Lawrence-Matthews (Danielle Fishel) and their daughter Riley who faces high school life with her father as her history teacher.

That '70s Show

The coming of age comedy about an eclectic group of friends in 1970s Wisconsin, starring Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, ran from 1998 to 2006.

That '70s Show

Ashton Kutcher (who plays Michael), Mila Kunis (Jackie), Topher Grace (Eric), Laura Prepon (Donna), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez) and Danny Masterson (Steven) reunited in September 2013 to spontaneously perform the show's famous theme tune. The cast gathered around a piano and belted out the lyrics to the song by Big Star, which was captured and shared on Instagram by Valderrama.

The majority of the cast previously reunited in April 2012 for Fox's 25th-anniversary special. Of course, stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have been dating since 2012 and welcomed their first child, daughter Wyatt, in September 2014.

When Harry Met Sally

We all remember the scene: whilst sitting in a diner, Meg Ryan's character Sally tries to prove to Billy Crystal's Harry, that it is very easy for women to give the impression they're enjoying sex when they aren't. But that is just one of the famous moments that Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal captured in the 1989 hit film.

When Harry Met Sally

The pair posed together at NYC's Lincoln Center to honour When Harry Met Sally director Rob Reiner in April 2014.

Image: Getty

My Best Friend's Wedding

The 1997 comedy film about Julianne Potter, played by Julia Roberts, who set out to win over her newly-engaged male best friend (played by Dermot Mulroney), is one of the greatest guilty pleasure rom-coms around.

My Best Friend's Wedding

The pair posed for pictures at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills in October 2014, more than 16 years after their debut together. Mulroney told Us Weekly that since the 1997 film's release, the two have "genuinely remained friends." On working with Roberts once again on 2013's August: Osage County, he said: "To be cast again [with Julia] was a thrill".

Image: Rex Features

Home Improvement

Tim Allen's family comedy about a home-improvement TV show host who raises his three mischievous sons with his wife Jill and seeks wisdom from the neighbour who we never saw the face of, aired from 1991 to 1999.

Home Improvement

In September 2011, the cast came together for a special reunions issue of Entertainment Weekly. While some of the actors met each other two years prior at the TV Land Awards, it was the first time the full cast saw each other after leaving the Home Improvement set in 1998.

“You know where you can pick up and it feels like no time has passed at all?" said Patricia Richardson who played wife Jill. "And at the same time you look at them and say, ‘How can you possibly be that age because that makes me way old!’” She invited her on-screen sons Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Taran Noah Smith and Zachery Ty Bryan back to her house after the shoot.

ER

ER

The former co-stars crossed paths on the 2013 Golden Globes red carpet and later that year Margulies said: "George just reminded me the other day that we are coming up on our 20th anniversary of ER. We used to joke that they never gave us a wedding on that show. He said we should just do a movie and just see what the ticket receipts are ... If George is in it, I'm game ... I always feel like you should look forward. I have a hard time going backwards, but you know what? I'd do it."

Clooney left ER after Season 5 and Margulies followed suit, departing after Season 6's penultimate episode, in which Clooney made a surprise appearance.

Mermaids

At just 19 and 10 years old at the time, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci became stars of the 1990 film Mermaids, acting alongside Cher.

Mermaids

Fast forward over two decades, and the two actresses caught up at New York Fashion Week sitting front row at a Marc Jacobs show in September 2013.

Image: Rex Features

Thelma & Louise

In the 1991 movie, Thelma (played by Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) bond together in their desire to live on their own terms. The women consequently became icons of freedom and friendship.

Thelma & Louise

In June 2014, the leading ladies posed once again for a selfie as they do in the film 23 years ago. "Inventors of the #selfie at it again," Susan Sarandon wrote alongside this picture of themselves on Twitter.

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

In 2005, Blake Lively, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn were cast as the four best friends who are metaphorically connected by a single pair of jeans as they go off their separate ways, based on the bestselling book series The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants.

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

The four women enjoyed brunch together in September 2014 and Amber Tamblyn shared a picture of the reunion on Instagram, writing "Brunch with my best bitches. #sisterhood."

The group released a sequel film in 2008 and a third installment is said to be in the works.

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Kayleigh Dray

Kayleigh Dray is editor of Stylist.co.uk, where she chases after rogue apostrophes and specialises in films, comic books, feminism and television. On a weekend, you can usually find her drinking copious amounts of tea and playing boardgames with her friends.